Draft-gear.



1. F. COURSUN.;

DRAFT GEAR.

` APPLICATXON, FILED DEC.15.1915.

Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

SHEET l.

2 SHEETS- Wing@ .9 s

. To fait? whom z''maycoacerm melee 2 legame.;

--Be it knownthat I, JOHN F. Comasco@ 'a .i eitze1'1 of the'Unitecl States, residing et L??? ca11'n,11 the county of Allegheny and State cir-resulting losJ motion, means for provid centrallyarranged expanding wedge mechanismf operable lipoo louing orl pulling,` to -eect expansion of the fricuoii shoes Within y an embracing cylinder or casing.

ofPemi'sylvania, have invented cert-ain new and 'useful Improvements in Draft-Gears,' owlfucli the ollowingis 'a speciicationg My inventzi on consists of. 'ari improvement 11i` draft Vgoers of the 'general Claes utilizing springs and friction 'shoes in connection 'with The particular objects .in View' areo roi; lglieresumpton of the parcs to horma'l posmonythe maintenance of the parte in a free open released condition. w'lieii not under 20 compressing strains,` means for positioning the' parts-ano vfor .eompensemg for weer ing'iiere'ased rictional action between the `Working parts, means for applying-force orreslstancedirectlyito thamncr poreloos of the frictionsh'oes, and various other iea'tiires of 'advaotageaad'construetionas more folly hereinafter lsel. forth, l

,The severed objects in. view are accolseA pli'slxed, 1n "cera'm preferred forms of' 'elle apparatus. asv more 1llyl1ere1ne.ir fdescribed and illustrated in' tli''aecomp'anying" 'FigureV a" long;

assembled, ed posicion.

4similar to Fig. ments.-

shoes.

drawings, in which-4% f f A v 'ladine-l verinical sectionalriew 4tlnouggg'h the complete gear as "lleparts beingshowi in extend- Fi 2 is a 'cross sectional View onI the line Il; ollig. l. i

Figs. 3 and are partial sectional Views,

l, showing modilied arrange- Fig. 'Sie a det-ailvew in perspective of' the outer-expanding collar.. v

6 isa similarview of thecoecting dirided friction collar. 4

l Fig. i' isa similar view of lheinner m pending and spacing collar.A i l Fig. 8 is asimilar View of oneof elle .friction shoes.

Fig. 9 is a similar'view of- 'tlie friction.I

Wedges andthe' 'inner angee of'illefrictiorls Spccficeioa, of' Letters Patent.' eppiiearin mee member 15, i915. serial No. 66,935.

ing a further modified construction;

in Figs. 10 and 11.

-`v.*transverse loolt or ke the car framing ateach side.

. by any suiable coenectig -Ir 1ecl'1anism. `A

follower l0 bears forwardly against Suitable C from: stops Il of the centerjsills 7, and is .fg Y

"supported otherwiee byany suitable o rnecf.

4cod 19, andsaid wedge `block. is provided..

faces of wedges 2l, taper inwardly toward.

I block intervening'between the expandingV tionally 'engage the inner, preferably .taj-

raeenfea Aeg.- 211..'191?.

IFig. 10 is a` View similar'to Figi-lesbo l*"ig s. 1l, 12 and-13 areartial similey v 1ews,sl1o\ving further mo ified .constru'otlonsf L' Fig. 14 is a cross sectionalV 'View or'rith/e 6"v luie XUL XIV'. of Fig. 13. 1.7 'Figr l5 `is aperspective detailfviewfshow 111g a modified construction of friction: block between'ighe expanding wedges 'and inner iangesl of the 'friction Shoes, asshoiii'r'i "651' Fig. 16 is'asimilar View' ofonefof vthe fri'emr-shoes adapted to'copemte with auch .form of friction bleek. Fg. l? -is a similar 'View Showing a.

Wedge. as usedin Fig. 13. l

la drawings; referringto Sheet l5 2 represems the drawbar of a couplerfjc'nd necied Wih the drawbars. or links bywe `5 4, which-*extends 'through slois' in the ront. portion of links 3, and through slots in the 'center 'sills ofV Lfnks 3 extend rearwardlyan'd enigage .80

easing 9 ali each side between the centerjsills,

,5 ess'ary means providing orea'sy assemblage. orremoval. I

A rcentral wedge. bloeit or hailing pressure baz' 18 bears directly against tlleQrear-'cenf "1., tral portion of follower l() by its Hnge@ with al terminal 2O providing an annulan tapered wedge ol"v coniform or otherxsliit able coiislrucftion, felle face of Which'cor responds in degree of slope to the inner face of expanding Wedges 2l." Said faces, e., 20, and. vinner contacting the longitudinal center of thegearatsuchi an .angle as toproduce a maximumjexpanflo sion with resulting free release.' n

vWedges or wedge blocks 21 bear outwardly' against .elle inner faces of a 'plurality of" friction shoes 22 arranged in al; annula'series within the casing 9 'and adapted tofpic i pered,v surface thereof. l

Said shoes 22 are providedf'at 'their limer against which bears the face of a pressure transmitting friction block or, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the inner ends of the expanding wedge blocks, directly.

Faces 24, in the construction shown in Figs. l., 3, 12 and 13, are at right angles to the longitudinal center of the gear and of the assembled friction shoes, as are also the engaging faces of `the pressure transmitting friction block 25 or the directly engaging faces of the expanding wedge blocks, as in Fig. 12. The particular advantage and object of such construction is that upon the generation of expanding and actuating pressure, either inwardly of the casing 9 in buffing, or of resistance against movement of the casing 9 in pulling, the inner portions of the friction shoes 22 will be directly engaged through their inwardly extending flange portions 23. Y

I thus transmit to the inner portions of the friction shoes a direct pressure or resist-ance, independent of the pressure of resistanceinterposed against their outer portions, whereby to insure theimparting to the inner portions of the friction shoes, direct application of the pressure or resistance, and a resulting uniform application of frictional engagement between the shoes and the inner surface of the casing 9 at all times during bufiing' or pulling operations.

Main spring 26 is inserted within therear portion of the casing 9, bearing against the rear inner end thereof, and against the rear ends of shoes 22 respectively, in a wellknown manner.

Each of the segmental shaped friction shoes 22 is provided at its front portion with a wedging surface 27 across the inner end face of the shoe between the radial faces 28 thereof, which dene a narrower front extension or lip 29of the shoe beyond the space-defining faces 2S at each side, backwardly beyond which the main body portion of each shoe is practically in contacting engagement with its next adjacent one, when the gear is closed, with slight clearance, as indicated in 2.

The purpose of so providing wedge faces 27 and the narrowed front extensions 29 of the shoe in the same region, is to provide for the insertion or seating of the expanding collar, divided friction collar, and inner expanding and spacing collar respectively.c

The expanding-collar 30. as shown, is provided with a central opening 31, 'by which it fits around or over the central wedge 18, and is provided with an annular coniform wedge face 32 adapted to directly engage the annnlar'wedge face or faces 33 of the divided frictionv collar 34, such wedge faces being preferably somewhat more obtuse than wedge faces 2019i the lcentral expanding Vinwardly upon release of pressure 1n pulling,

wedge and the inner wedge faces of the eX- i panding wedges 21.

The inner face or faces 35 of divided fric-A tion collar 3l abut directly against the lface of inner expanding and spacing' collar 36, 70 both collars 34 and 36 being centrally'apertured for mounting around the central wedge 18.

Collar 36 is provided with, an annular wedge face 37, interrupted at intervals by laterally disposed 4spacing projectionsI 38, adapted to intervene between 'the several ex`- tensions or lips 29 of the friction shoes, whereby to maintain the several shoes' in proper spaced relationshi andv tonp'ro'vide 8C for direct engagement by t e several annular wedge faces 37, with the co'acting Wedgev faces 27 of the friction shoes.

Inserted betweenthe front face of expanding collar 30 and the near face of flange 19 85 of the central wedge 18 is' adretracting spring 39, the purpose of which is` to thrust the central wedge outwardly" upon release of pressure in buling, or to thrust the collar 30 whereby to elfeetually release and permit the' several parts to resiune their normaldnopera.-A tive position. l

Central wedge 18 is ofthe floating type,- being unconnectedwith and free of restraint by any connection with the rear portion of the gear. Interposed between ythe inner,

vpreferably squared, abutting ends'of expand` ing wedges 21 and the inner faces 24 of friction shoe ilanges23, is the pressure transmitting friction block`25having similar co' acting faces in direct intervening abuttingA engagement with said faces.

By this means, the direct pressure in either bulling or pulling, above pointedl ont, is transmitted between these parts. Likewise, initial movement of the friction shoes 22 and expanding wedges '21 toward the center of the gear, under compression strains, due to the tapering linner annular face of casing 9. effects a material frictional engagement across the end face of block 25, thereby materially amplifying the total frictional result of the gear.

In the simplerv arrangement shown in Fig.. 12, the friction shoes 22a are directly engaged, by the inner faces 24 -of their terminal anges 23,by the inner abutting ends of the expanding wedges 21a. imparting direct transmission of the force longtudi nally, but without anis7 lateral frctional en- `tion utilizing the single expanding and spacing collar 36, the directly engaging spring 39, and the several other ,parts already described, and indicated by corre4 spending numeral having the exponerit' n.189-

The pressure. transmitting lfriction block 25,` in so far as its function `for. transmitting the pressure to orfrom the expanding'wedge blocks and friction shoes is concerned, may be merely a dat faced disk, but, as shown in Figs.v l and 8, itis provided witlirthe stem extension 25. Said stem extends' rearwardly minal button' or or is adapted `to' engage, a terhead 40 seated against the end of-an inner` spring'- 41, ynested within main spring' 26 nd adapted to 'transmit and engages,

movement/.and eAY ect resulting spring resistance between stem and block 25, and

button 40 respectively said' button' being preferably provided with a central depression or seat Ak42 Vfor engagement against the end ofstem 25. Y.

By interposingv the divided friction collar i Stbetween the expanding collar and the inner expanding and spacing collar 3G, in Ward 'movement-of expanding collar 30 under pressure of spring `39 is provided for, y without any resulting undue compression or crushing of spring 39.' The angle or slopel of Wedge termi1ial'20 of bar-1 8 being more acute than the angle' faces .ofv the assembledl f vided collar 34 expanding under pressure and permitting; collar -30 tov advance inf or collar' 36 to move outwardly, in buiiing,

` in' other Words, to

wardly, in `pulling., or,

y' facilitate the approachment'of said collars wearv of the outer'aces ofv the friction slices the parts,

toward each other, by' a partial lateraldis.v l placement of the' intervening divided col#v lar 34. f`

In the operation of the gear, due to the 22, these shoes will gradiia-llyassume dis tances increasing from the center outwardly, and the weer of members of the gear toward eachother.

The divided collar compensate ordiierences in fthe travel of' whereby to maintain an average spacing as to spring tlbetween collar 30 and terminal ilange i9, so as to maintain the in effecting snug seating collars andcontniuoiis and ynation of pressure, of the frictionexerting members, and the spi'ingcontiuoiisly in its normal condition.l as to length and resiliency.

The advantagesk of. such' construction re suit in continued efficiency of the spring 39 of the assembled reliable capacity in eecting release of the bar'l pon termiwith resulting collapse l .the other parts will result, in the gradual advancement "of the 'several 34 will tinusv tend to desired easy eration.

and tree release after each opv`While the' .principal object in providingKVV the direct longitudinal abutting engagement .l '.70'

between the inner ends of, Wedge locks 2l and flanges 23 of friction shoes 22 is to exert an inward pull or. resistance as to, the inner ortions of the frictionshoes, with a result-V ing maintenance of their friction surfaces in engagement with theinner annular face of the casin 9, the intervening pressure-treinsmitting riction block 25 'and the flanges 23 'may be so constructed as tof'also generate.

added friction, b y oonstructingtlie block and the inner portionso 'the friction shoes in `the manner shown in Figs. l0, 11,515 andv i6 of the drawings. l

ln such constructon, block 25b abuts vby shapedprojections providingv Wedge faces 48 adaptedto coact with the correspondinjgl wedge faces ad of similar V-shaped projetstions. and recesses. on the innerl faces of iiang'es 23l of rictionslioes 22". These lfaces, for the purpose additional wedging and resulting friction action, may be arranged in planes diverging laterally at right angles to the.

radially and general .longitudinal center 'in Fig. l0, or they may of .the gear, as

other parts of the gear being substantially by corresponding numerals having the exits front flat face directly against the inner lends. of wedge blocks 2lb, but isv provided von. its rearor inner face with a series of-V- feof 'ci generating y be sloped back-'f v-vvai'dlyn lproviding'additional Wedging a,

, tion, as indicated at 43C and 44, Fig. il', tl?.

thesame as already described', andA indicated ponent` b as to Fig.A 10,- andtlie exponent c as to Fig. il.

- In the construction of/Fig. S11,

of the Wedge-engagement .between the wedge v'it-aces of block 256 and the wedge'faces of the .friction slioes22c tends to distcnd the wedge shoes laterally into frictional engagement vwitbfthe casing Q, whilethe came eifectfis lsecured'in the construction of Fig. '10, in adf f ditionto the lorwardly pulling action on the..

flanges 23d othe friction shoes 22, in addi-1A tion'to, the weiiging'actionending to spread' the inner ends gol' the shoes.;

`ln Fig.' 13, the construction' 'sembled wedges 21 'and theirv co-cotton with the central bar '20'andaso with the friction vshoes theiriiariges 2 3, is substantially .tliesanie' jas as 'to the 'asd and; its .tapering terminal 22d and inthe construction' ofi l"ig` 12,in thattliere between the squared. shoulders ofthe wedges directl abutting longitudinal engagement'. l

andv the said `friction shoev flanges The Wedges 21dv comprise. an assembled serieaofy segmental sections,

lin Fig. 1 7 and each V1'25 one of which is illustrated I of which is provided` with a forwardly extending segmentabstem 25d adapted, with. its assembled companion stems, to provide a composite vstein which projects beyond the inner face of the friction shoes and provides a terminal abutting l bearing for the cap of spring All".

In the several constructions illustrated in l0, l1, and 13, I have utilized the single expanding and spacing collar 36, 36C, 3G and 36 respectively, similar to collar 36,

Fig. T, engaging the end Wedge faced portions of the several 'friction slices by its inner faces, and providing a bearing for the inner end of releasing spring 39", 39', or 39, respectively, whichl in turn engages by its other end the terminal flange of the central expanding bar, asdese'ribed.

y lnFiU. 121 also sliowa modified arrangement of'tlie spring-actuated releasing inechanism for the'inner end of the central bar, in which the pressure button 25 is seated against the forward terminal of inner spring il, and is provided vwith accntral forwardly projecting pin 25im adapted to abut against the lpreferably recessed terminal of the wedge end 20 of bar 18a. y

In the several arrangements of such recasing, friction shoes therein, a central eX- panding wedge, a drawbar, a plurality of co-acting Wedging collars between the fric-A tion shoes and the expanding wedge, and a sprin engaging the outermost of said collars leasing mechanism, I provide' a cushioning' resistance for the said wedge bar, either directly against it, or through the intervening wedge blocks, by means of which the central independent spring 4l, et sag/.,"is coin piQessed at any desired stage of the operation of the gear, andwhicliivill re-act at the termination of the strain, with sufiicient .force to effect release of the central mechanism. .Y

The degree of pressure and the time of its generation. may be readilycontrolled by wedging varying the proportions of the parts, the diss tancebetiveen the coiitactingelenients, or otherwise, whereby to insure ample resisting and releasing action, depending upon the desi-gn, capacity, oi' other qualities of the gear itself.

Y The invention will be. rcadilynnderstood,

as to its construction and operation, from the foregoing description.

The action of the gear in insuring con# stant maintenance of the desired relative locatii'ni and position of the co-acting parts,

compensation for any lost motion or wear of the several parts, and the desirable prompt and free release of the gear, is greatly facilitated.

It is comparatively simple in construction, composed of few parts, not li`able to get out of order. and is capable of generating a very high resistance to theI various shocks inci;

dent to train service.

The invention may be variously changed or modified in construction or detail arrangeincnts by the skilled mechanic, but all such changes are to be considered as within the s co )e of tlfie following claims.

"llfhatI claim is: l. In a draft gear, lthe combination of a end portions of the friction shoes.

and t e expanding wedge.

2. In a draft gear, thev combination of a casing, friction shoes therein, a central expanding wedge, a drawbar, a plurality ofco-acting integral and divided Wedging collars between the friction shoes andthe expanding wedge, and a spring engaging 4the outermost of said collars and the expanding wedge.

3. Iii combination `with the friction shoes havin expanding wedge faces and a central expan ing device; pf a plurality of cofacting wedging collars operable against' said wedge faces by the innermost of said collars, and a spring engaging the outermost of said collars and the central expanding device.

4. In combination with the friction shoes having expanding wedge faces and a central expan ing device; a plurality of (1o-acting integral and divided vwedging collars operable against saidwedge faces` by the innermost of said collars, anda spring'engaging the outermost of said collars and-thc central drawbar, of friction .shoes engaging the cas.

'ing having inwardly extending end portions provided with front bearing faces transverse of the longitudinal center of the gear, a cen .tral wedge, and expandin wedges tween the central wedge and the riction shoes having rear similarly transverse bearing faces adapted to transmit pressure directly toward the front faces of theinwardly 7.'In a friction draft gear, the combination withthe casing and the relatively7 movable drawbar, of friction shoes engaging thel casing 'having inwardly-extending en y por` tions provided with transverse confronting faces. substantially' -atA right angles to the longitudinal center of the gear',la central wedge, expanding wedges between 4tliewcentral wedge and-the friction shoes, and a pressure transmitting block between the ends of said expanding wedges .and .said inwardly extending end portions the friction shoes having additional front and rear transverse extending *E15 ioo ' naamw vfaces ch'iifronting the faces-of theA expanding tivelylf l 8.,;ii1a friction draft gear,'tliecomhina ti with-thecasin "and the-relatively movfk gles tothe' inwardly extending end portions of the friction shoes, 'and a spring arranged -to exert releasingresistance against said interior v wedge meehanism- 9. 'Ina frictionv draft gear, the combinall. The combination with friction shoes yofl a draft gear having interior wedge faces,

expanding :wedge mechanism therefor enibodying a central wedge, and a releasing spring engaging said central wedge, of an `inner expanding collar engaging the wedge faces of the slices,A an outer expanding col# lar engaging the spring, and an intervening friction collar, said collars having wedge faces less acute than the wedge faces of the centralwedge. i

12. The combination with friction shoesof a draft gear having interior wedge faces, expanding wedge mechanism therefor embodyj "ing a central'wedge, and a releasing spring :tion with the casing and the relatively mov- 'able drawbar, of friction shoes engaging the 1 casing having inwardly extending end portween the 'ends of said'expanding wedges,

tions, fa central wedge, expanding ,Wedges between the central wedge and the' friction` engaging said?` central wedge; of an inner expanding collar engaging the wedgel faces of-the shoes, an outer expanding collar engaging the spring, and an intervening ldishoes, anda pressure transmitting block ne-1` andsaid inwardly extending end portions ofy the frit'ition shoes'having an extended stem,

and aspring v adapted.. to. exert pressure againstfsaid stem' to oppose hinding action of said linterior 'wedge mechanism.

10.-;The combination with friction shoes of. andraft gear having interior Wedge faces,

/bodying a central wedge, `spring engaging said i vided friction collar.

13. The combination with friction shoesof a draft gear having interior wedge faces, expanding wedge mechanism therefor emcentral wedge;. of a plural member expanding and friction col expanding` [wedge: mechanism therefor. 4veme,

bodyiiig...a-central` Wedge, and a releasing'v spring-fengaging-said central wedge; ofan p friction: collar; v

inner-expanding.,collarlengaging the lwedge .faces-of; the shoes, an outer ,expanding collar e gagging@the Hspring.,y ,and4 an intervening the shoes and the spring respectively and operable with relation to the friction shoes` at the same rate of inward travel as the central wedge.

i In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

J OHN F. CGURSON.

Witnesses:

' W. A. BECKMAN,

C. M. CLARKE..

6o anda releasing f lar mechanism engaging the wedge faces of 

